Director Kim Tai-sik’s latest film with executive and creative producer Joyce Bernal “Sunshine Family” shows how far some would go to protect one of their own.

Adapting the late Japanese writer Hakaru Sunamoto’s work, viewers follow Don (Nonie Buencamino), a Filipino employee of Sunshine Travel Agency as he drives home through Seoul after a company party. He gets distracted and hits a female pedestrian. When he checks the scene, he finds her face down on the street with a lot of blood. He flees home and confesses his crime to his wife Sonya (Shamaine Buencamino). She takes matter to her hands after seeing a forklift coming by and takes the damaged vehicle into their home. The couple and their two kids, Shine (Sue Ramirez) and Max (Marco Masa) are in the process of packing their things before they head back to the Philippines. However, Sonya makes it her mission to get rid of the evidence to make sure all four of them get on that plane. While she puts in a lot of effort and research, other people start to get close and create more trouble for the family.

When thinking of a movie about a family of criminals, Hirokazu Koreeda’s 2018 “Shoplifters” might be brought up. Though both films explore family dynamics and the efforts of not getting caught, “Sunshine Family” is a lighter and wholesome film filled with comedic moments. It is interesting that the movie cast real-life couple Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino who have been married for almost 30 years. The bond they have may have helped with the very personal and intimate scenes. 

The film is a mixed bag of genres as each of the featured characters have their own problems that find their path into the main conflict. Romantic drama is very present as each of the main women have issues with their significant others. Sonya’s ingenuity gives a vibe similar to the “Ocean’s” movie series with the same kind of background music. The way everything reaches its climax fits how much of a hot mess the family got into. The blend of Tagalog, Korean and English is amazing to hear especially from the Filipino actors. Luckily English subtitles are available with the U.S. screenings for those that can’t understand the other two languages.

Overall “Sunshine Family” is a quirky movie that shows how much individuals can do when they become a whole. The storytelling and cinematography might not be as polished compared to other films but still can be enjoyed by many.

To check out where you can watch “Sunshine Family”, check out myTFC for more information and theater listings.